We had one of the most difficult days today and we have only positive things to say about Advanced Vet Service. A friend had recommended them and it was perfect for us. After 14 years of a beautiful life, we had to help our dog become a beautiful spirit. The staff and Dr. McPeters were so incredibly thoughtful and sensitive to our family. The facility was incredible and the setting was absolutely perfect. They fully explained what we could expect and gave us all the time we needed to say good bye. Throughout the day we weren't sure what to do but because of their availability we didn't feel pressured. We had all the privacy we could want...which is essential when you are mourning the loss of a loved one...I also felt they really cared. Thank you AVS for your caring and professional service. read more

Dr. Wells and her staff took care of Kashi during the last year of her life. We're fortunate to have these compassionate professionals here in Santa Barbara. And now, with their new AVS hospital on East Carrillo, we have superb around-the-clock care and emergency services available to us. -- Roberta K. read more

Dr. Doria and the AVS staff tried to save my rabbit's life after CARE left us to wait for an hour and then sent us away. The AVS staff was professional, caring and prompt. Dr. Doria did her very best for my Nellie, but alas she was too far gone by the time we got to AVS. My advice, go directly to AVS and skip CARE. read more

I wish there were minus stars. If you love your pet do not take them here. I took my sweet little doggie in when she was having difficulty breathing due to pleura effusion, $2000 dollars and 6 hours later she was deathly ill and I had no choice but to euthanize her. First off they gave her TORB to calm her down but it causes fluid retention and respiratory depression so she should have never been given this. They supposedly put her in an oxygen cage for 6 hours. I told them she needed her heart medication and it could not be missed. I even took it to them so they would have it but they decided not to give it to her. By the time I went to see her 6 hours later she was a thousand times worse. She wasn't in an oxygen cage, but had a mask held to her face. All the oxygen cages were full so I highly doubt she had been kept in one. I picked her up and the vet was immediately ready with the injection to put her down. I didn't get even 2 minutes with her before she euthanized her. They took the most precious thing from me and I'm sure they caused her to suffer while in their care. Five months earlier the same thing happened to her and the vet had her back to normal in one evening at half the cost. I was told by her cardiologist that she had years to live and her vet saw her 2 days before and said she was fine. I know with all my heart and soul that AVS killed her and I will never be the same. Also, the 2000 dollars I was charged was for a 24 hour stay and she was there only 6 hours....do you think they offered a refund.....no way. This place is out to make money not to provide acceptable care to our pets. read more

Dr. Wells and her staff is fabulous, thorough and competent. All their staff is very compassionate and kind. Can't even imagine a clinic where you can't take appointments or have any way of screening the "quality or quantity" of who comes through your door. Yet, they do it, despite the crazies that come in from time to time. Christmas Eve and Christmas morning I was greeted with smiling faces and excellent care. Thank You! read more

I called to get a rough estimate for a scope and no one can give me a quote over the phone, very frustrating when you have to drive a long way. The first time I called the receptionist told me to call back in 30 min so I can speak to someone and when I did call back they still told me I could not get pricing. So will not reccomend, calling a competor. Called the competor and got pricing read more

Every single one of the staff is amazing. They did absolutely everything they could do for our kitty, stayed in close touch with us throughout the process, helped us make hard decisions, and combined amazing care with incredible compassion. I cannot say enough about this facility and its staff--I'm just so glad they're here, because my cats mean everything to me, and their care is my top priority. Dr. Wells and Dr. Haak and their outstanding staff consistently go above and beyond to provide the best quality care. read more

Our dog fell very ill overnight and upon waking up in the moring he was so ill to the point of not being able to walk. We rushed him to over and the level of care that was provided to my dog was astounding! They did not waste any time they rushed him back and got blood work started. The front desk was fast and efficent. Of course compared to our regular vet this place was a bit more expencive but the care, expertise, and swiftness was well worth it. They were very agressive in his treatment and they communicated everything to us clearly. They broke down the cost and diagnosis in black and white there were no hidden fees of any sort and they never made false promises about the health of our dog. They offered to let us visit our dog at any hour of the day and night, they did everything in their power to make him as comfortable as possiable with pillows and blankets. You can really tell that the staff here loves animals and they try to do everything they can to help. At the end of the day our dog ended up not making it, and it was just because of how sick he was, not because of the care. Although I am sadened that my furbaby was too ill to fight his infection, I am thankful for the Vets and Veterinary assistants who did everything in their power to try and save my dogs life. read more

I brought my dog into AVS with signs and symptoms of a foreign body in her nare (foxtail). The vet #1 consented me for a nasal exploration with sedation, and if they were not able to see the foxtail, they would anesthetize my dog and explore her sinuses further for removal and irrigation. That vet went home and vet #2 did the surgery. She changed the plan of therapy and did not explore her sinuses after the exploration did not show a foxtail. She did not call me with a change in the plan, so I was not able to consent for the decision to not anesthetize my dog and explore her sinuses further. They missed the foxtail and 4 days later, my dog had to have a second operation with a different vet because it was missed. My complaint is that I consented for ONE operation and received ANOTHER. They changed the plan of care without my consent, and ended up missing the foreign body. My dog had 4 days of unnecessary pain. She also had to have two surgeries instead of one. They then were disingenuous in that they refused to refund my money because they said I refused anesthesia and exploration, which is not true. The evidence I have is that I Pre-PAID for the anesthesia/exploration but it wasn't done, so they credited that portion back after the #2 vet changed the plan of care without my consent. If they would have just told the truth and took responsibility for the mistake, I wouldn't be entering this complaint. I will add that the front desk staff was quite pleasant and kind. The manager who handled my experience was curt and harsh. Lastly, I put in a complaint with the BBB and am filing a small claims law suit....only because they lied (allegedly of course). read more

After a morning of anxiety on a Sunday trying to determine if our dog, R2, could wait a day to get into the vet, I called AVS to get advice. Of course you could say that they are ALWAYS going to say to "bring him in" but I really felt like they sounded concerned and that waiting could cause him to become more sick from infection. So...off I went. Front desk staff was great. Vet techs were great. Dr. Nora Badal was great. Everyone explained exactly what they were going to do and what to expect. Because it was Sunday and because Sundays are a big emergency day, I had to leave R2 so that they could find a block of time to sedate him and perform his procedure. They said to call at any time to check on his progress. As it's a 25 mile round trip and I was already downtown Sunday evening I just dropped in to see if he was ready to go home. Turned out that I had shown up right at shift change so I ended up waiting about an hour...but that was fine with me. I understand how important it is for them to go through each patient's situation, case, care, etc. before handing them off to the next crew. Once they were ready they brought me a detailed list of follow up instructions and medications. I was refund a small amount of the up-front payment I had made early in the day, and R2 was brought to me to take home. It has only been a day, but his treatment seems vastly superior to the previous time we dealt with the same issue at a vet, and I have a feeling that this time I won't need repeat return visits (knock wood). I feel like I paid a fair price for a 24/7 facility on a Sunday. I am really glad to have had a non-life-threatening experience with AVS in case we ever need them for that. I would be go there again in a second. Thank you! read more

The worst animal clinic in the State! They do not have proper diagnostic equipment as they claim they do not offer the services they say they do my dog was neglected for proper treatment by them . I had to take him to Irvine animal hospital for proper diagnosis and treatment. This place is a rip off and did not care properly for my beloved dog. Thank God I took him to a real Hospital in Irvine!!!do Not Go Here if you love your pet. Your vet knew you did not have the equipment or skill to treat my dog so you let him suffer to run up a large charge before admitting to me you were an unqualified unequipped facility to handle real trauma. So deceitful!!! I want everyone to know the truth about your facility. Your add is a lie and you do not offer deciliter care. You just take money and let the ER suffer! Then tell the truth that you can't handle real trauma and have no MRI!!! Scam! Cruel! Terrible! read more

During the Christmas holiday, our 2 dogs were poisoned by rodent bait and were near death when we brought them to the clinic. Dr. Elson (and Dr. Gibbs) did a fantastic job saving their lives! While we were there, we talked to other animal owners who were also very happy with the care that their pets received. Dr. Elson is a fantastic, very knowledgable doctor who seems to truly care for her patients! read more

AVS is amazing. My 15-lb, older dog was attacked by a much-larger dog about a year ago. I rushed to take her to the nearest vet -- and thankfully it was AVS. They took one look at her and jumped right into action. I'm not sure if she would have recovered as fully as she did if not for the amazing work of all the vets there. The office is clean, modern and state-of-the-art. The staff are extremely organized and professional. It's hard to say how their prices compare because I have no idea what the going rate is for my dog's operation. The surgery wasn't cheap, but luckily I had insurance. I'm sure it would have been that expensive at most clinics. And they did follow-up care free of charge. The vets are all very kind. AVS is truly an asset. read more

They're fantastic. My precious dog had heart failure. They took such good care of him and me. Sadly, it was his time to go. They were very compassionate. The only thing I didn't like was that they tried to take him in the back room to administer the final medication. There was no way I was going to leave him in his final minutes. They complied and he died peacefully while I was holding him. I know it's hard for them to see owners suffering. read more

The doctors and staff are incredibly knowledgable and caring.

I have known Andrea Wells for at least five years. When she worked for CARE, her skill as an internal medicine vet saved my poodle Cequoia's life and gave us several more years with her. More recently, her skill at the Ultrasound quickly diagnosed our other poodle Monte's parathyroid tumor and saved his life as well. Today, Monte is healthy, happy, and giving us a lot of joy. I am so pleased Andrea has opened her new clinic and that it is an Emergency clinic as well. Santa Barbara needs an alternative emergency care clinic and, after hearing about her from a friend whose cat almost died, I can say it is none too soon. Congratulations Dr. Wells, it is long overdue. read more

I cannot express the gratitude I have towards EVERYONE at AVS for the care they gave to our sweet dog Bella. We brought her in on a Saturday night with severe pancreatitis which lead to other issues. Her stay was a lengthy one of 9 days and always from critical to stable. I was an emotional wreck but the entire staff was so comforting and caring and didn't mind when I called at all hours of the night to check on my sweet family member. My wish was to get her stable enough to transfer to my local vet and then home. They gave me my wish and will be forever grateful to them. Even though Bella was a fighter she passed away this last week. AVS treated her like she was a member of their own family. Thank you again to everyone there and I HIGHLY recommend AVS for the professional services as well as friendly environment. You are truly the best! read more

If you are in need of emergency care for your pet, there is no where else to go! The staff and Vets are kind and extremely knowledgeable! In addition, they will not gouge you on the price. read more

AVS is a clean and new ER for your pet. They have all the latest equipment. The staff is professional and caring. Dr. Haak was a great comfort to me when I had to let my yorkie go. She even met with me days later when I wanted to go the tests and ask questions. I wouldn't go anywhere else.Abel at the front desk is so nice. read more

Our german shepherd has been seeing the cardiology team at AVS for about 7 months and both Drs. Nakamura and Morrison are great! But Wednesday morning (5am), I had need to take her in. We were met by Dr. Matie McPeters. A nicer, more compassionate and empathetic vet I have yet to meet in all the years I have had dogs (40+). Regrettably, we ended up putting our beloved down. At the end, we were ALL in tears. read more

The Doctors and Staff at AVS are the absolute best. They are skilled, compassionate, efficient and loving. My 14 year old mini poodle had a rupturing gallbladder and they took such good care of him and saved his life. Thank you AVS!! read more

Our Sunday night trip to this facility was terrific. Molly at the front desk was courteous and thoughtful. Dr. Elson was brilliant, diagnosing and treating my dog who ingested a poisonous substance. We are lucky to have this group in SB and I am thrilled to know there is a smart and thorough group of veterinary doctors who can treat emergencies 24/7. read more

My boyfriend and I brought our dog into AVS around 12:00 on a Tuesday night (God bless them for being open 24 hours 7 day a week!) she was very badly injured from being attacked by another dog and she could no longer open her mouth (due to her face wounds being infected she developed lock jaw). Dr. Gibbs was the first doctor we spoke to she was an absolute sweet heart and was extremely helpful with explaining our dog's condition, possible outcomes, and procedures we needed to have done. We could see that she truly cared for our dog. The next morning we found out that our dog would never be able to open her mouth again and she was going to need a very expensive surgery and tracheostomy and even after all of that, there was a possibility that she would never really recover. The wonderful Dr. Shields was very helpful and sweet when she explained our options to my boyfriend over the phone. After thinking long and hard about our options we decided it would be best if we put her down. The ENTIRE staff there are absolutely amazing. They're passion for animals is very apparent. They handled our situation with tender love and care and they were so great to us through the entire process. From a scale of one to ten I would rate them a twenty. I HIGHLY recommend AVS! read more

The attention shown to our Nico was knowledgeable, efficient, caring, very skilled, and loving. AVS is a very impressive organization and we feel so appreciative for their excellent care of our sweet boy. We are new in Santa Barbara. Nico developed an ear infection, and we turned to Yelp to determine where to go to get him medical attention. AVS was outstanding in their care for him and for us. Lauren Perry, Technician Assistant, treated our Nico with loving attention & reassurance to us. Dr. MaryEllen McLoughlin DVM was Nico's physician and she diagnosed, treated and prescribed while showing great care, knowledge, and attentiveness to our boy and to us. She explained things extremely well to us, and instantly won our confidence and respect. They are highly professional people at AVS with hearts of love. They treated Nico and us caringly, and truly reached out to see and talk about the very kind personality of our dog. AVS' facilities are immaculate and modern. We feel very fortunate to have moved to a city with such an outstanding ER and outstanding personnel. Thank you so much! read more

got a yelp account to write this. My baby girl had 2 siezures and I came into the ER with or course $1500 cash on hand to pay immediately for their service. I brought her in and they were so sweet with her she was less nervous than at her usual vet. They immediately checked on her and said she was stable. After doing some research while waiting in the lobby I realized that it was mostly likely from the medicine she has been taking. I let them know and they double checked with their vet and said they agreed. I offered to pay them for initially checking on her knowing that it is expensive and they said "no". They younger guy with the Tattoos was so sweet and helpful. I AM SO GRATEFUL TO AVS and I have already spent over $5000 on my baby at other 24/7 care places in town in the past so I know what to expect. I AM FOREVER GRATEFUL TO AVS . Emergency VET care is extremely expensive just like emergency human care. If you have a pet that you love more than anything you should always have at least 2k available to cover medical emergency's. read more

We have had animals all our lives. I grew up on a farm. This is by far the best veterinary clinic we have come across. Coming from LA we were blessed to find this place and will never go back to our experts in LA again. Sharon Shields and Mary Ellen McLoughlin and truly the whole staff was so incredible when when we found breast tumors on our Lily. Heres why: First the place has a great vibe, its clean, everyone is loving towards your pets and nice to you. Second the office is efficient and runs on time. Third They are smart, logical and have common sense. Fourth, they don't gouge you for every little thing. The other vets wanted to remove the tumors charging an arm and a leg for surgery. AVS did not jump to surgery but wanted to monitor. They said she had a spot on her lung and one on her liver (yes, they were the only ones to recommend checking other parts to monitor her condition) and rushing into surgery at her age could pose other problems. They were right. They helped us weigh all options, and even did research and got back to us with others that did not incur charges with them. The were doing what was best for our dog. Their logical common sense approach and treating the whole pet was perfect and befitting to our situation. Within months we lost our Lily and so glad we spent her last months with quality time vs. recovering from major surgery. On her last day my husband brought her in when she was having a seizure. They were kind and caring and were right there for him and for Lily. Losing the best dog that ever lived was tremendously hard, but if the pain could be eased, AVS did an exceptional job. Which brings us to our fifth point, they treated not just our beloved Lily but considered the whole circumstance and the whole family. We will be forever grateful for their kind services and would encourage them to open up their practice for everyday veterinary needs. read more

From the moment we got there and greeted until the doctor came in and made us understand everything and laugh at her ease, I LOVED this place. We had Lauren as our tech (previously worked at the zoo!) and I can't remember our physician, but she is from Poland and you'll know it, her accent is still very thick, but BOY did she thoroughly examine our little boy! I learned things about him that no other physician has ever taken time to observe! As far as I'm concerned, the facilities blew me away with its cleanliness, color scheme to make your comfortable, friendly staff (even as busy as they were!) and also offering refreshments! They make Care Animal Hospital look like the pound! And their pricing was far less depressing too! I was thrilled to find how detailed a report they gave us with regards to our cat, the care, the treatment of our animal and the time they took to make us relax! I am now recommending without hesitation that everyone who has an animal that is "FAMILY" go only to AVS! I am now so pleased to know there is an alternative to CARE Animal Hospital who not only charged me over $2k to "revive" my poisioned cat (he didn't make it, but wouldn't even give him back to me to take home, even though I insisted!! They didn't even have the decency to take off any of the tubing and bandages when they gave him back to me! How'd you like it if the ER gave you your dead child back that way? That's how I felt the way they treated my cat! AND charged me $2k! Please friends, without a doubt, take your animal here. It's worth every penny to know that your family will be well cared for. read more